I grew up just outside of Chicago, so I’m all too familiar with bitter-cold winters, but I’ve been out of the icy cold winter season for years since we moved to Florida in 2003. Now I’m in North Carolina and anticipating my first real winter in 11 years. It’s time to bundle up, baby!
Knowing that my coldest winter in years is on the horizon, I took some time to brainstorm ways to remain active during the winter months to share as part of Columbia’s new initiative. I’d love to hear some of your ideas, too!
Tips for Staying Active During the Winter
- Keep At Home Workout Options On Hand
When it’s cold outside, there will inevitably be days that we won’t want to leave the comfort of a warm and cozy house. That’s when at home workouts come into play! Build a small collection workout DVDs, check out free fitness channels on YouTube or browse Pinterest for lots of at home workout ideas! If you happen to have an Amazon Prime membership, you can find tons of free workouts there as well!
- Bundle Up and Take Your Workout Outside
Even during the cold months, there are still tons of ways you can stay active outside. Grab a coat and have fun skiing, snowshoeing, building snowmen or snow forts and sledding. If it’s cold but there isn’t any snow on the ground, check out an indoor ice skating rink for some winter fun or bundle up and head out on a long hike!
Some new sure-to-keep-you-warm winter apparel favorites from Columbia:
I first had the chance to put Columbia’s famous TurboDown jacket to the test during a ski trip to Park City back in January and walked away raving about the heat-retaining powers of the Omni-Heat insulation (SO impressed!) and the lightweight yet incredibly warm down.
The silver lining you see is the Omni-Heat thermal reflective technology at work! The inside of the jacket is lined with tons of metallic microdots that reflect your own body heat back to you, making it 20 percent warmer than a normal liner. Sounds crazy, but after trying it out in Park City, I am a believer!
Another feature I somehow never hear people talk about that seriously impressed me is the way the TurboDown jackets can fold up and take up minimal space in a suitcase. When I think of down jackets, I always think of gigantic puffy coats that take up tons of space, but this jacket is somehow extremely lightweight and small but still incredibly warm.
In the winter months, warm feet = Happy feet! Columbia’s Minx Boots first caught my eye when I saw the company’s social media guru wearing them in Park City so I was quite excited to try a pair myself! I opted for the Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print because I wanted a pair of boots I could easily pull on and off to take me to and from the gym during the winter, but I also wanted a waterproof boot I could wear on cold weather hikes.
These boots fit the bill and I love the fun print and cushioned sole. Plus, I have a feeling the Omni-Grip will come in handy when it gets icy outside or when I am hiking and need a good grip to keep me from sliding all over the trails.
- Participate in a Winter Workout Challenge (or Create Your Own!)
Sometimes a little friendly competition (even if its only with ourselves!) is all we need to get motivated to work up a sweat. Many gyms offer winter workout challenges but if you cannot find a fun challenge near you, reach out to some friends and create your own. Pick a prize that will motivate you (a new workout outfit, perhaps?) and make it a goal to work up a sweat four to five times a week. Support each other and hold each other accountable!
- Try a New Workout Class or Sign Up for a Local Running Club
Trying something new can do wonders when it comes to reigniting our love for fitness. Try taking a new workout class at your gym or sign up for a class you’ve never tried before at a local studio. (If the cold has your spirits at an all-time low, look for a hot yoga class to warm you up!) If you miss your summertime outdoor workouts, research local running clubs. Most running clubs meet up during the winter months, too!
- Train for a Race or Competition
There’s no denying the fact that having a goal makes it a little easier to commit to a fitness routine. By signing up for a race or local competition (look for indoor triathlons and CrossFit competitions), you’ll have a training plan to follow which may motivate you to stick to your workouts when curling up on the couch sounds more appealing.
Columbia Giveaway
And now it’s time for a winter giveaway! I have a feeling most of you out there are hoping to remain active through the winter months, so I’d love to send one reader their own Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket and another reader a pair of Minx boots in the style of their choice.
If you’re hoping to win the jacket, simply comment below and tell me which color you’d like from the options offered: Red (the one I have), purple, black or silver.
If you’re hoping to win the boots, let me know which style you like best! (You may see the 10 different style options of the Minx boots here.)
Or, if you don’t care which prize you win and are equally interested in both the jacket and the boots, tell me about some of your favorite *active* things to do during the winter months or some of the ways you motivate yourself to stay active in the winter.
I will randomly select two winners on Friday!
Good luck!
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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Columbia through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Columbia outerwear, all opinions are my own. The giveaway portion of this post is not sponsored and I will personally be buying the winners’ prizes and mailing them to the winners. Good luck!
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I like the mid II omni heat in silver boots, and the jacket in the purple or silver. Both are super cute.
I love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heaat boots. Thanks for a fun giveaway!!
That red jacket is totally a winner 😉
I would love either the red or purple jacket! So cute!
Love that jacket in purple!!
I’d love the silver jacket. Thanks for another awesome giveaway Julie!
I really enjoy ice skating in the winter time to stay active. It is a great way to get in some exercise while also being social at the holiday time! I stay motivated to exercise in the winter by thinking about how good it is for my health. Rather than obsessing over a bikini body for the summer or something of this like, I focus on exercising to stay healthy during the winter months and free of sicknesses.
I like the omni print boots you have. If this winter is anything like last year, I need these! Plus they’re super cute
I just moved from Florida to upstate South Carolina and I have no REAL winter clothes! This would be really beneficial if I won the black Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket!
Hi Julie, I just moved to suburban Chicago for grad school, I’m from San Diego and am very unprepared for the cold weather! It’s already freezing! I’d love to win the jacket in black! Thanks! 🙂
this red jacket is a must-have! Not too puffy and looks really warm!
I am interested in both! I am going to be traveling for work to cold places and hope to squeeze some outside runs and walks into my trip!
The MID II Omni-heat boots would be perfect for winter walking!!! Love them 🙂
I would love to own the Women’s Minx™ Slip II Omni-Heat™ boots! They look so comfortable and warm!
In order for me to stay active during the winter months, I use at home workout DVDs. It allows me to workout anytime, and have no excuses. I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat boot in black. So cute!
I woudl love the black or purple one!
Love the red jacket! Looks light but warm & cozy!
I just snagged my Columbia coat on a sharp sign and would love the black coat. I stay pretty active in Wisconsin with cross country skiing and curling!
I’d be so happy to win either one! I live in the mountains of Colorado so my entire winter is spent outside – skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing are my favorite activities!
My husband and I take the pups to the snow for snowshoeing. It is a great workout and amazing how little you need to layer up because you work up a sweat quickly! It’s so much fun. I also head to the YMCA to run. Just getting out there and seeing other people at the gym is motivating to keep you going! Love both the jacket and boots. So cute!
My motivation for staying active even in winter – my 3 little boys (6, 4, 2) and my 2 Weimaraners!! Boundless energy, all of them 🙂 Lots of running, bike rides, and soccer games in our family! I’m in the market for both a new active winter coat and some boots to keep my feet warm and dry, so this review is so timely. THANK YOU for offering such a generous giveaway!
I love both the jacket and boots too much to choose so I’ll just share winter activities: I still love getting out and sledding/snowball fighting/etc. because, especially loaded up in snow clothes, it can be a good cardio workout. Otherwise, winter hikes and jogs are still at the top of my list, the gym, and hot yoga. There is nothing better than hot yoga mid-winter. Period.
I would love love love the black jacket!!
The jacket sounds great! I would love the Purple option.
I’m looking for a new winter jacket for the cold in Central VA — would love to try the jacket in black!
I would absolutely love either the boots or the jacket. It gets chilly up here in New England and I walk to my office from the train station each day so I would get a lot of use of both. I try to stay active by running/walking outside when I can (as long as it is not too icy) and then I have worked on getting together some “home gym” essentials so I an do some basic working out in the house when I can’t get outside.
I love the purple jacket! super cute. thanks for the giveaway!
I love taking a bikram yoga class – perfect way to stay HOT during the winter!
I’m a Kappa Delta at Virginia Tech and our winters can get into the negatives with 10 inches of snow! I’d love the black jacket!
I would love either! I like to play with my dog outside – pretty much throwing snowballs at him while he tries to catch them! I also like going for a run when its not too icy outside. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat in Black. I think they would definitely keep my feet dry and warm as I walk across campus throughout the winter.
I would love to win a silver jacket!
Either the purple jacket or Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Boot in Shale. And I live in MN where being active is a need. Walks, snowshoeing, snowboarding!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot!
I think I would go with a purple jacket and the first boot because it is the tallest!
I live in Houston now so the winters aren’t too cold, but I am from Canada so I remember trying to do what I could to get outside – I think snowshoeing or cross country skiing are great activities that you can do right outside your front door!
I enjoy running or hiking with my dog in the Winter, especially in the Snow! I’m really looking forward to the cold weather, the black jacket would be perfect! But the omni boots also look nice.
I think I’d go with the Mid II Omni-Heat boots 🙂 Great give-away Julie!
Love the red jacket! Looks warm but light!
My wife would love the Black jacket in small
OOOO! The black jacket!
I’d love either. Love the red coat! Warm and cute!!
I continue to do Crossfit in the winter. Sometimes I switch though to evening classes rather than 5 am. It’s so hard to leave a warm, cozy bed. But I know I’ll feel better when I’m done!
I have multiple fleeces and vests by Columbia and the red jacket would be an amazing addition to my winter wardrobe. It would come in handy for my ski vacations and also walking the city streets of NY.
I’d love the boots or the jacket! Those look like great winter clothing items. In Montana,we often have to give up fashion for functionality in the winter, so I love that these items are both fashionable and functional!
I usually work out at the gym with my boyfriend after work (great way to connect at the end of the day!) or go cross country skiing with friends on some of the sunny yet frigid days we have in Montana in the winter.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
The red Jacket is adorable. I need a new one.
During the winter months I try to bundle up and get out for a walk during lunch since it is dark before and after work!
I love the winter white Minx boots! So cute!
I love the boots you’re wearing! I like the shorter pull on style, and I think I’d like them in black to go with everything. 🙂
My first choice is the black jacket; my second choice is the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in Saddle.
I’d love the minx mid II omni heat boot in grey.
I love hiking in the winter! I love walking and enjoying the season! I really love the black jacket! So classy!